The Kansas City Golf Association and the Kansas Golf Association have agreed to begin a new chapter for the historic Heart of America Four-Ball Championship. Commencing in August 2016 the two golf associations will collaborate to present a reformatted match play only championship for amateur golfers in the Midwest.The jointly presented 2016 Heart of America Four-Ball Championship will be held August 8-10 at Milburn Country Club, one of the area’s best venues that recently saw some re-routing of holes to make room for a new clubhouse.

KCGA Executive Director Doug Habel remarked that “the Heart of America Four-Ball Championship has a long and storied history in the Kansas City area. I could not be any happier that the championship is returning to the calendar and that we have this opportunity to work beside the Kansas Golf Association to bring a truly unique event to the golf community in Kansas and Kansas City. Milburn always provides a great stage on which to determine a champion, and I expect that to be the case again for this championship.”

Each Association will conduct a qualifier event for golfers from their respective regions. The top 16 teams from each Association will then be seeded into a four-ball match play bracket. The left side of the bracket will pit the KCGA teams against each other and the right side will seed the KGA teams. This will result in the finals always being a KCGA team against a KGA team. The KCGA will host the event in 2016 and the KGA will assume hosting responsibilities in 2017 and the two associations alternating years going forward.

The KCGA will conduct its qualifying event on June 13th and 14th using two venues; Staley Farms and Canyon Farms. All teams will play one round at each golf course.

Kim Richey, KGA Executive Director, announced that the Kansas Four-Ball Championship will become the “qualifying event” for the new Heart of America Four-Ball Championship. It will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 11-12 at Alvamar Golf Course in Lawrence, Kansas. The 36-hole four-ball stroke play championship will be open all golfers regardless of place of residence or age, with the top 16 teams based on residence becoming the KGA’s representative teams for The Heart. The full details will be announced in January.

“This is an exciting time for golfers in Kansas, Kansas City and the Midwest. Our two golf associations will combine golf’s most competitive format with the challenge of outstanding venues to build an annual contest to showcase the best amateur golfers in an atmosphere of a friendly rivalry. The KGA is very honored and pleased to have forged this partnership ‘of the Heart’ with our friends in Kansas City,” stated Richey.

For more details on the new Heart of America Four-Ball Championship and how to qualify, contact either the KCGA or the KGA or visit their website. Full details available in January.